NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => NGIS (Formerly Orbital ATK) - Antares/Cygnus Section => Topic started by: gongora on 10/16/2018 02:13 am
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Thread for the CRS NG-11 flight.
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0827-EX-CN-2018
The AeroCube-10 mission consists of two nanosatellites, called AeroCube-10a and 10b that will
demonstrate 1) precision satellite-to-satellite pointing, 2) deployment of atmospheric probes for
in-situ measurement of air density, 3) small-spacecraft proximity operations using propulsion from
a steam thruster (no docking is planned), and 4) solar cell performance degradation experiment
that will correlate data from radiation sensors tuned to the energy levels suspected of causing
damage to a drop in solar cell power output.
The AeroCube-10a and 10b
spacecraft are manifested as part of an upcoming Commercial Resupply Service mission to the
International Space Station (ISS). They will be deployed directly from the resupply spacecraft at
the end of its mission. The resupply mission will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional
Spaceport on Antares 230/Cygnus. The orbit will be circular between 400 km to 500 km altitude
with an inclination of 51.6°.
A pair of cubesats that will be deployed above the ISS altitude after Cygnus leaves ISS.
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0827-EX-CN-2018
The AeroCube-10 mission consists of two nanosatellites, called AeroCube-10a and 10b that will
demonstrate 1) precision satellite-to-satellite pointing, 2) deployment of atmospheric probes for
in-situ measurement of air density, 3) small-spacecraft proximity operations using propulsion from
a steam thruster (no docking is planned), and 4) solar cell performance degradation experiment
that will correlate data from radiation sensors tuned to the energy levels suspected of causing
damage to a drop in solar cell power output.
The AeroCube-10a and 10b
spacecraft are manifested as part of an upcoming Commercial Resupply Service mission to the
International Space Station (ISS). They will be deployed directly from the resupply spacecraft at
the end of its mission. The resupply mission will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional
Spaceport on Antares 230/Cygnus. The orbit will be circular between 400 km to 500 km altitude
with an inclination of 51.6°.
A pair of cubesats that will be deployed above the ISS altitude after Cygnus leaves ISS.
Above ISS? Isnt that odd? I mean it is my understanding that most cubesats are released down and away(prograde) from ISS to avoid collision with ISS.
Pic NanoRacks cubesat deployer on Feb 25, 2015
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Cygnus has started deploying some of them higher after leaving ISS, gives them more time on orbit.
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Re: LIVE: Cygnus OA-8 - Arrival, ISS mission and EOM - (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44220.msg1756460#msg1756460)
Now, Cygnus will perform some burns to enter an orbit 50km above the ISS and to released then several cubesats, in about 6 hours...
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1850-EX-ST-2018 (https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=88083&RequestTimeout=1000)
This STA is necessary to authorize radio transmission of data to and from the ThinSat satellites. This STA is necessary to replace STA 1063-EX-ST-2018, because the launch has been slipped from NG-10 to NG-11, as part of the rescheduling of launches due to the recent Soyuz launch failure. All orbit and lifetime parameters remain the same as for the original STA, but the launch date will be NET March 1 2019, current expected date April 17, 2019.
edit: ThinSat post in NG-10 thread: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45110.msg1831978#msg1831978
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This STA replaces STA 1018-EX-ST-2018, which was granted October 3, 2018.
SASSI2 has been remanifested to launch on NG-11 instead of NG-10. The only change is that
the launch will occur later; all of the orbit parameters, lifetime and technical parameters of the
spacecraft and mission remain unchanged from those granted in the original STA.
The decision to move to NG-11 was part of the change of launch schedules to respond to the
recent Soyuz failure.
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TJ REVERB moved from NG-10 to NG-11. 0950-EX-CN-2018
The TJ REVERB satellite will be launched to the ISS on the Cygnus NG-11 mission
currently scheduled for April 17, 2019. The satellite will be deployed from the ISS by Nanoracks
(I think it's kinda funny they point to Gunter's site as a source of additional background information. Gunter's site is almost always a place to look for additional background information :D)
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NASA has provided an update on ELaNa CubeSat launches
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
On NG-11 these cubesats are planned
ELaNa 26
Date: NET April 17, 2019
Mission: NG-11 – Antares II, Wallops Flight Facility, Va.
5 CubeSat Missions scheduled to be deployed
CAPSat – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
HARP – University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland
OPAL – Utah State University, Logan, Utah
TJREVERB – Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria, Virginia
Virginia CubeSat Constellation – Old Dominion Research Foundation, Norfolk, Virginia
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I almost didn't click on this, I don't recall seeing these before for Cygnus missions.
0019-EX-CN-2019 (https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/442_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=89308&license_seq=90232)
Some information on radio emissions from Cygnus, a little info about reentry.
For the NG-11 mission Cygnus will carry an external NanoRacks CubeSat Satellite Deployer (NRCSD), which will deploy up to 4 “CubeSat” microsats following departure from ISS. Each NRCSD, with integrated CubeSats, is provided to NGIS by NASA. The microsats release point will be approximately 45 km above the ISS. The Cygnus orbit will be circular at the time of the deployments
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https://twitter.com/EntrySat/status/1100880427676459009
https://twitter.com/EntrySat/status/1100900766489948160
https://twitter.com/EntrySat/status/1102522575467483136
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Another cubesats, which will fly in NG-11.
https://twitter.com/UVAEngineers/status/1101218072428535810
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These will also fly on this mission.
http://iss.jaxa.jp/kiboexp/news/20190221_birds.html
Google translation
Three ultra-small satellites of 1 U size (10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm), designed and manufactured by Kyushu Institute of Technology as the third bulletin of the BIRDS project (* 1) on February 18, 2019, the next Saturday, 19 Singapore Space Technology One small ultra-small satellite of 3 U size (10 cm × 10 cm × 30 cm) designed and manufactured by the National University of Singapore based on the contract with the association (* 2) was transferred to the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) It was handed over to JAXA and the installation work was carried out to release from the Japanese space experiment building "Kibo" in the International Space Station (ISS) around May to June.
The third bulletin of the BIRDS project this time is from students of Kyushu Institute of Technology and students from Sri Lanka and Nepal who are studying at the university. Among them, for Sri Lanka and Nepal, it is the country's first artificial satellite.
The installation work is proceeding smoothly and will be launched to the ISS around April in the future by the Signin Supply Vessel Operation No. 11 (NG - 11) from the state of the state of Purga in the United States.The installation work is proceeding smoothly and will be launched to the ISS around April in the future by the Signin Supply Vessel Operation No. 11 (NG - 11) from the state of the state of Purga in the United States.
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https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/1102912921049489408
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March 05, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY M19-013
NASA Invites Media to Northrop Grumman’s April Cargo Launch from Virginia
Media accreditation is open for the launch of Northrop Grumman’s next delivery of NASA science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station on April 17.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is targeted to launch on the company’s Antares rocket at 4:46 p.m. EDT from Pad-0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island in Virginia.
To cover prelaunch and launch activities at Wallops, international media without U.S. citizenship must apply for credentials by Friday, March 15. The application deadline for media who are U.S. citizens is Wednesday, April 10. All accreditation requests must be sent to Keith Koehler at [email protected].
On this mission, Northrop Grumman will use a new late load capability. Previously, all cargo had to be loaded about four days prior to launch. This new capability will allow time-sensitive science experiments to be loaded into Cygnus just 24 hours before liftoff.
This is the 11th and final Cygnus mission under Northrop’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-1 contract with NASA. The CRS-2 contract begins with a cargo launch in the fall.
Each resupply mission to the station delivers scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, and technology development and demonstrations. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical science research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new investigations at the only laboratory in space.
NASA leads human space exploration in low-Earth orbit with commercial and international partners to enable missions to the Moon and Mars. International Space Station missions are a catalyst for economic development and the advancement of scientific knowledge and new technologies that improve our lives.
Get more information about Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply missions at:
https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman
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Next Northrop Grumman Cygnus Launch Set for April 17
Sarah Loff Posted on March 7, 2019
Media accreditation is open for the launch of Northrop Grumman’s next delivery of NASA science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station on April 17.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is targeted to launch on the company’s Antares rocket at 4:46 p.m. EDT from Pad-0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island in Virginia.
On this mission, Northrop Grumman will use a new late load capability. Previously, all cargo had to be loaded about four days prior to launch. This new capability will allow time-sensitive science experiments to be loaded into Cygnus just 24 hours before liftoff.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/northropgrumman/2019/03/07/next-northrop-grumman-cygnus-launch-set-for-april-17/
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Another cubesat readdy for NG-11
http://investor.aacmicrotec.com/pressmeddelanden/aac-microtec-delivers-iod-1-gems-the-first-satellite-in-the--69639
The 3U satellite, named IOD-1 GEMS (Global Environmental Monitoring Satellite), is scheduled for launch onboard a Cygnus uncrewed resupply spacecraft and will be delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) by an Antares rocket. The launch window at NASA Wallops (Virginia, USA) opens on 17 April 2019.
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NASA has updated the site about Upcoming ELaNa CubeSat Launches
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
ELaNa 26
Date: NET April 17, 2019
Mission: NG-11 – Antares II, Wallops Flight Facility, Va.
2 CubeSat Missions scheduled to be deployed
CAPSat – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
HARP – University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland
Only two sats remain, HARP and TJREVERB moved to NG-12. The question is about the three Virginia CubeSat Constellation satellites, which are readdy to fly, but not included in the new schedule.
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Some information about cubesats on NG-11
1. In the above mentioned NASA document, CAPSat is listed twice, in NG-11 and NG-12.
Because https://aerospace.illinois.edu/research/research-facilities/laboratory-advanced-space-systems-illinois-lassi said CAPSat is slated for launch in fall 2019
I assume the entry in NG-11 is a typo, and the Virginia CubeSat Constellation satellites should be mentioned there.
2. Regarding cubesats we have two numbers for NanoRacks
From "Attachment 4 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation 0019-EX-CN-2019" , provided by gongora, we know For the NG-11 mission Cygnus will carry an external NanoRacks CubeSat Satellite Deployer (NRCSD), which will deploy up to 4 “CubeSat” microsats following departure from ISS.
From a NanoRacks tweet we have learned Testing for yet another #Cygnus mission is underway as we gear up for #NG11! Seven more #CubeSats will be destined for orbit.
3. We will have there four cubesats, which flight is supported by JAXA.
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/kuoa/news/1802_spooqy-1.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
The SpooQy-1 and BIRDS-3 were handed over to JAXA on the same day and are scheduled to be launched aboard the Cygnus 11 Spacecraft from Virginia, USA.
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http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/001487.html
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NASA has updated the site about Upcoming ELaNa CubeSat Launches
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
ELaNa 26
Date: NET April 17, 2019
Mission: NG-11 – Antares II, Wallops Flight Facility, Va.
2 CubeSat Missions scheduled to be deployed
CAPSat – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
HARP – University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland
Only two sats remain, HARP and TJREVERB moved to NG-12. The question is about the three Virginia CubeSat Constellation satellites, which are readdy to fly, but not included in the new schedule.
They have changed it again.
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
Now only the VCC sats are on NG-11.
As I assumed CAPSat is now NG-12, HARP is missing.
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They have changed it again.
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
Now only the VCC sats are on NG-11.
As I assumed CAPSat is now NG-12, HARP is missing.
HARP is now on NG-12.
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They have changed it again.
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
Now only the VCC sats are on NG-11.
As I assumed CAPSat is now NG-12, HARP is missing.
HARP is now on NG-12.
Thank you. The list was changed again. Yesterday 16 sats were on NG-12, now there are 18 sats.
HARP was added and also this one: SwampSat II – University of Florida, Gainesville
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https://www.kraksat.pl/space/en/
Another satellite on NG-11.
Despite its little size, KRAKsat has a huge task to complete. It will travel on the board of Cygnus ship and Antares rocket until, in April 2019, achieves International Space Station. Satellite will be launched from ISS into space at height of 400km.
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https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1110181033348083712
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https://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops/status/1110281551735066625
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https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/1110980348077326336
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April 05, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY M19-024
NASA Highlights Science on Next Northrop Grumman Mission to Space Station
NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 10, to discuss select science investigations and technology demonstrations launching on the next Northrop Grumman commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station.
Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live online at:
http://www.nasa.gov/live
Northrop Grumman is targeting Wednesday, April 17, for the launch of its Cygnus spacecraft on an Antares rocket from pad 0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia.
Pete Hasbrook, associate program scientist for the International Space Station Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, and Patrick O’Neill, senior manager of marketing and communications for the station’s National Lab, will provide an overview of the research and technology aboard Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft.
Also participating in Wednesday’s briefing are:
Richard L. Hughson, Schlegel Research Chair in Vascular Aging and Brain Health and senior director of research at the University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, will discuss the Vascular Aging investigation, which analyzes ultrasounds of the arteries and wearable sensors of the space station crew members.
Roberto Piazza, professor of condensed matter physics, Polytechnic University of Milan, will discuss the Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature-10 (ACE-T-10) investigation, which tests gels in a microgravity environment. Knowledge gained from this investigation can be applied in efforts to grow increasingly complex materials used to build new materials and equipment in space.
Trevor Castor, President and CEO of Aphios Corporation, will discuss Targeted Nanoparticles for Orphan and Chronic Diseasesin a Microgravity Environment Using Green SuperFluids Technology (STaARS BioScience-11) investigation. Nanosomes or nanoparticle delivery systems are being studied for use in targeting chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and HIV. Nanoparticles created in microgravity are much smaller, enhancing drug uptake and delivery. This approach potentially reduces the required dose per treatment and decreases cost per dose.
Laura Shaw, International Space Station Program Lead for Exploration Life Support Systems, and John Garr, Exploration Life Support System Integrator, will discuss the Thermal Amine Scrubber, a technology that tests a method to remove carbon dioxide from air aboard the orbiting outpost. NASA will use the station as the testbed to evolve the station’s life support system into an evolved system for use on Gateway to support missions to the Moon and eventually for Mars missions.
Brian Banker,Seeker deputy project manager, will discuss Seeker, a flying robot prototype to be used outside spacecraft to perform inspections. This investigation will take place after the Cygnus resupply spacecraft leaves the space station and will fly the robot on basic maneuvers to take high-resolution images of Cygnus.
To participate in the teleconference, media must contact Gina Anderson at 202-358-1100 or [email protected] by 10 a.m. Tuesday, for dial-in information.
The Cygnus spacecraft will carry crew supplies, scientific research and hardware to the orbiting laboratory to support the Expedition 59 and 60 crews for the 11th contracted mission by Northrop Grumman under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract.
For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330969667_Seeker_Free-Flying_Inspector_GNC_System_Overview
Seeker Free-Flying Inspector GNC System Overview
Seeker will be deployed from the NanoRacks External Deployer.
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Scientific Investigations Set for Space on NG-11
NASA Johnson
Published on Apr 9, 2019
A Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft scheduled to lift off no earlier than April 17 will carry supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station. For this mission, Northrop Grumman will use a new late load capability that allows time-sensitive experiments to be loaded just 24 hours before liftoff.
https://youtu.be/GqRITyuIojY?t=001
https://youtu.be/GqRITyuIojY
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April 11, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY M19-028
NASA TV Coverage Set for April 17 Cygnus Launch to International Space Station
NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the international Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17. The launch, as well as briefings preceding and following liftoff, will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
Loaded with 7,500 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
About two-and-a-half hours after launch, an automated command will initiate deployment of the spacecraft’s solar arrays. Full deployment will take approximately 30 minutes.
The Cygnus spacecraft, dubbed the SS Roger Chaffee, will arrive at the space station Friday, April 19. At about 5:30 a.m., Expedition 59 NASA astronaut Anne McClain will grapple the spacecraft using the station’s robotic arm. She will be backed up by David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency. NASA astronaut Nick Hague will monitor Cygnus systems during its approach. After capture, ground controllers will command the station’s arm to rotate and install Cygnus on the bottom of the station’s Unity module.
Complete NASA TV coverage of launch activities is as follows:
Tuesday, April 16:
1 p.m. – What’s on Board science briefing
Pete Hasbrook, manager, International Space Station Program Science Office
Liz Warren, associate program scientist, International Space Station National Lab
Andrew Zarechnak, Cygnus vehicle manager, Northrop Grumman
Maria G. Bualat, Astrobee Facility, Facility Deputy Group Lead, Intelligent Robotics Group at Ames Research Center
Dmitry Starodubov, Chief Scientist, Space Fibers
Trisha Rettig, post-doctoral fellow, and Nina Nishiyama, research associate, Rodent Research-12
Bob Twiggs, professor of Astronautics and Space Science at Morehead State University/Co-Inventor of the CubeSat, Twiggs Space Lab; Marty Estep, Antares program operations manager at Northrop Grumman; and Chris Hale, program manager for Virginia Space ThinSat Program
4 p.m. – Prelaunch news conference
Pete Hasbrook, manager, International Space Station Program Science Office
Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program deputy manager
Doug Voss, deputy chief of the Wallops Range and Mission Management Office
Frank DeMauro, vice president and general manager, Space Systems, Northrop Grumman
Kurt Eberly, Antares vice president, Northrop Grumman
Wednesday, April 17:
4:15 p.m. – Launch coverage begins
7 p.m. – Cygnus solar array deployment coverage begins
8:15 p.m. – Postlaunch news conference
Joel Montalbano
Frank DeMauro
Kurt Eberly
Pete Hasbrook
Friday, April 19
4 a.m. – Coverage of Rendezvous and capture of Cygnus
7 a.m. – Coverage of Cygnus installation operations
Media registration for the launch and associated activities is closed. However, media may participate via phone in the What’s on Board briefing and prelaunch and postlaunch news conferences. Media interested in participating must contact Gina Anderson at [email protected] for call details.
Media already registered to attend launch activities at Wallops can get more information on schedules, facility hours of operation, remote camera setup, and more at:
https://go.nasa.gov/2Ifq0WA
The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the space station until July 23, when it will depart, deploy NanoRacks customer CubeSats, and then have an extended mission in orbit until December before it will dispose of several tons of trash during a scheduled fiery reentry and destruction in Earth’s atmosphere.
This will be the final mission under Northrop Grumman’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA before starting the CRS-2 contract missions this fall. Under Northrop Grumman’s contract, the company will fly 11 missions.
Learn more about the Northrop Grumman CRS-11 mission to the International Space Station at:
https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman
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I'll be at the launch, watching from the NASA viewing area! Always excited to see these.
Is the NSF twitch team going to be at the launch?
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330969667_Seeker_Free-Flying_Inspector_GNC_System_Overview
Seeker Free-Flying Inspector GNC System Overview
Seeker will be deployed from the NanoRacks External Deployer.
Pretty excited for this one. I provided the Cygnus 3d model they used to train the neural network for Seeker. I hope some cool pictures of Cygnus come out of it
For anyone trying to keep track of NRCSD utilization, Seeker is a 3u cubesat, and theres a second 3u payload (Kenobi) which will stay permanently attached to Cygnus to serve as a communications link between it and Seeker (since Seekers battery life is too short to downlink its data direct to Earth)
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https://twitter.com/nasahqphoto/status/1117807508733726720
The @northropgrumman Antares rocket with #Cygnus cargo vehicle onboard is seen as it rolls towards Pad-0A at @NASA_Wallops ahead of the company's 11th resupply mission to @Space_Station. See more 📸 flic.kr/s/aHskTMfMuJ
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Antares Rocket for Northrop Grumman CRS-11 Rolls to Launch Pad
Rob Garner Posted on April 15, 2019
NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17.
Loaded with 7,500 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
The team rolled the Antares rocket out from the Horizontal Integration Facility at Wallops the morning of April 15.
More images are available from NASA Headquarters’ Flickr.
The launch, as well as briefings preceding and following liftoff, will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 4:15 p.m. EDT April 17.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/northropgrumman/2019/04/15/antares-rocket-for-northrop-grumman-crs-11-rolls-to-launch-pad/
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Super rollout photos here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157679887079798
Serial numbers visible at highest resolution.
First stage appears to be Taurus 2 Stage 1 No. 10.
(NG-10 used S1.9, OA-9 used S1.6, etc.)
- Ed Kyle
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Cygnus Spaceship at Launch Pad as Crew Trains for Delivery Mission
Mark Garcia Posted on April 15, 2019
The next U.S. spaceship to deliver goods to the International Space Station rolled out to its launch pad in Virginia today. The Expedition 59 crew is training to capture the U.S. space freighter while also filming a virtual reality experience aboard the orbital lab.
Northrop Grumman is poised to launch its Cygnus resupply ship atop an Antares rocket Wednesday at 4:46 p.m. EDT. It will blast off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on a day-and-a-half long delivery trip to the station’s Unity module.
Astronauts Anne McClain and David Saint-Jacques will be waiting for Cygnus’ arrival Friday morning from inside the cupola. McClain will command the Canadarm2 robotic arm to reach out and capture Cygnus about 5:30 a.m. as Saint-Jacques backs her up. Robotics controllers will take over shortly after and remotely install the Cygnus to Unity’s Earth-facing point about two hours later.
The duo, supported by NASA astronaut Nick Hague, continued reviewing procedures and practicing robotics maneuvers today as Cygnus counts down to its Wednesday launch. NASA TV will broadcast the launch and capture activities live.
More virtual reality filming continued today and has been ongoing for several months now inside the orbital complex. The crew has been filming a 360° experience depicting life on the station for future viewing by audiences on Earth.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/04/15/cygnus-spaceship-at-launch-pad-as-crew-trains-for-delivery-mission/
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https://twitter.com/northropgrumman/status/1117824440568614914
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L-2 weather. Improvements for launch date from yesterday. 90% of GO weather on Wednesday for 16:46 EDT (20:46 UTC) lift off.
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Latest Weather Forecast for April 17 Antares Launch: 90% Favorable
Rob Garner Posted on April 15, 2019
The latest weather forecast stands at 90% favorable for the April 17 launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. At this time, cloud ceilings, ground winds and thick clouds are the weather concerns for a launch attempt on Wednesday afternoon.
NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17.
Loaded with 7,500 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
High pressure builds into the region overnight through tomorrow, allowing winds to subside later this evening. Tranquil and seasonable conditions prevail tomorrow with the high located just to our south. Another area of high pressure dips south into the northeast states Tuesday night into Wednesday, forcing a cold front south over the Delmarva Wednesday morning, then eventually the Wallops area.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/northropgrumman/2019/04/15/latest-weather-forecast-for-april-17-antares-launch-90-favorable/
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https://twitter.com/ingallsimages/status/1117973648655171584
The @northropgrumman Antares rocket with #Cygnus cargo vehicle onboard is raised vertical at the @NASA_Wallops Pad-0A ahead of the company's 11th resupply mission to @Space_Station. See more 📸 flic.kr/s/aHskTMfMuJ
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Daybreak at the Launch Pad
Rob Garner Posted on April 16, 2019
The Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station is scheduled for launch at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17.
Loaded with 7,600 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/northropgrumman/2019/04/16/daybreak-at-the-launch-pad/
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U.S. Resupply Ship Poised for Launch as Crew Studies Life Science
Mark Garcia Posted on April 16, 2019
The U.S. Cygnus resupply ship from Northrop Grumman is encapsulated atop the Antares rocket and standing at its launch pad in Virginia. The Expedition 59 crew is training for its capture at the end of the week in the midst of ongoing life science aboard the International Space Station.
Cygnus will blast off Wednesday at 4:46 p.m. EDT from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. It will deliver about 7,600 pounds of science, supplies and hardware to the orbital residents. Flight Engineer Anne McClain, with astronaut David Saint-Jacques backing her up, will command the Canadarm2 robotic arm to reach out and capture Cygnus Friday about 5:30 a.m.
The duo continued sharpening their robotics skills today as they practiced Friday’s Cygnus capture maneuvers and techniques on a computer. NASA TV will broadcast the space freighter’s launch and capture activities live.
McClain started the day setting up a mouse habitat that will house rodents to gain insight into the immune system’s response to long-term spaceflight. Saint-Jacques set up the 360° camera in Tranquility module for more virtual reality filming of crew life on the station.
Flight Engineer Christina Koch started Tuesday collecting and spinning her blood samples in a centrifuge for the Myotones muscle study. She then joined NASA astronaut Nick Hague for body measurements and ultrasound scans to research how microgravity impacts the biochemical properties of muscles.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/04/16/u-s-resupply-ship-poised-for-launch-as-crew-studies-life-science/
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Per interview just now with NGIS officials, all on track for launch tomorrow.
Antares vertical right now undergoing Combined Systems Test. Will come back horizontal this afternoon for L-24hr cargo late load at 17:00 EDT (21:00 UTC). Will go back vertical tonight.
First time Cygnus and Antares will undergo late-load ops.
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For those with L2 access, detailed rendezvous timeline and cargo manifest (with mass) here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47914.0
Interview (and transcript) with NGIS officials covering everything about this mission is here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47913.0
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ODAR and Press Release for the ThinSat mission.
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The What's on board briefing starts at the top of the hour
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21X5lGlDOfg
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Latest Launch Forecast: 95% Favorable Weather
Rob Garner Posted on April 16, 2019
Weather stands at 95% favorable for the April 17 launch of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, according to the latest range forecast. At this time, cloud ceilings and ground winds are the primary weather concerns for a launch attempt on Wednesday afternoon.
NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17.
Loaded with 7,600 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, on the state’s Eastern Shore.
High pressure will continue to provide pleasant conditions today to the Delmarva before moving offshore this evening and overnight. Another area of high pressure dips south into the northeast states tonight into Wednesday, forcing a cold front south over the northern Eastern Shore tomorrow morning, then eventually the Wallops area. Once the front moves through, winds will shift to an east-northeasterly direction and increase with wind gusts in the upper teens while advecting scattered low-level cloudiness across the range. Upper level cloudiness will also be increasing during the afternoon as a weak upper-level disturbance approaches the Eastern Shore.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/northropgrumman/2019/04/16/latest-launch-forecast-95-favorable-weather/
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Late Loading, live!
https://www.twitch.tv/dasvaldez
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Video:
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1118277745161703425
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Some shots I took today out at the Pad.
High Res. photos in L2
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Northrop Grumman CRS-11 Mission Overview
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ng-11_final.pdf
S.S. Roger Chaffee Fact Sheet
http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/Antares/Pages/Antares-Missions.aspx
Unfortunately, I can't find the NGIS NG-11 Factsheet yet.
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https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-set-to-launch-11th-cargo-delivery-mission-to-the-international-space-station-for-nasa
Antares is carrying two secondary payloads on its second stage. These small satellites include one NASA-sponsored 3U CubeSat called Student Aerothermal Spectrometer Satellite of Illinois and Indiana CubeSat (SASSI2) and 60 ThinSats.
Once Cygnus is unberthed from the station, it will reposition to deploy three CubeSats using a NanoRacks deployer. The Slingshot CubeSat Deployer System is also scheduled to be installed by astronauts while Cygnus is docked to the station for another round of deployments once the spacecraft unberths.
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https://twitter.com/myfirstsatellit/status/1118449835756199936
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https://twitter.com/myfirstsatellit/status/1118458964067409921
Because NanoRacks was saying, that they will deploy seven satellites (three from the External deployer from Cygnus) the missing two in this tweet should be the VCC satellites and Seeker.
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Any info about the Cygnus total weight, ant Antares total weight for this mission?
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Any info about the Cygnus total weight, ant Antares total weight for this mission?
3,447 kg (7,600 lbs) of cargo, supplies, and equipment. Heaviest Cygnus on an Antares to date.
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April 17: Launch Day
Rob Garner Posted on April 17, 2019
NASA’s commercial partner Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch its Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station at 4:46 p.m. EDT today, April 17.
Loaded with 7,600 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, this is Northrop Grumman’s 11th commercial resupply NASA-contracted mission. It will launch from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
The launch, as well as briefings preceding and following liftoff, will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at 4:15 p.m. EDT April 17.
Local and regional viewing opportunities for the launch are detailed on NASA’s website.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/northropgrumman/2019/04/17/april-17-launch-day/
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Any info about the Cygnus total weight, ant Antares total weight for this mission?
3,447 kg (7,600 lbs) of cargo, supplies, and equipment. Heaviest Cygnus on an Antares to date.
So we have only an approximate total weight for the entire vehicle... 1.800 + 3.447 kg = 5.247 kg
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FEATURE ARTICLE: Antares, Cygnus in final CRS1 contract flight; will debut critical new capabilities -
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/antares-cygnus-final-crs1-contract-flight-new-capabilities/ …
- By Chris Gebhardt (@ChrisG_NSF)
Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) for NSF
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1118541050728079360
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T-4hrs 32mins and COUNTING.
Teams are working through final GSE power up. Delayed on that by 10-15mins due to earlier need to shut some systems down for tests and checkouts.
Teams are continuing to work through other procedures ahead of the start of fueling.
Right now, all remains on track for a 16:46:07 EDT (20:46:07 UTC) liftoff.
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Here we got the final conformation from NanoRacks.
https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/1118525026393833477
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L-4hrs: Teams have received a "go" to proceed with external power on to Antares.
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5mins to fueling poll.
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GO for propellant sequencer start!
That will start at T3hrs 40mins
(Edited).
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So even though the launch window opens at 16:46:07 EDT, Antares teams have just confirmed that the optimum launch time today (and what they will target) is: 16:48:36.33 EDT (2048:36.33 UTC )
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Oh... they're discussing a need to go back to the pad for a 5-10 minute operation. Talking about a 15-minute worse case impact to the count.
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Issue with TEL will require Red Team to go back to the pad and perform ~15mins op. Launch team is still progressing with no discussed impact to launch at this time.
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RF open loop and transmitter checks being done now instead of waiting as Red Team reviews procedures they'll go once they get to the pad.
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Red Team cleared for reentry to pad and perform opt to fix TEL issue.
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So we have only an approximate total weight for the entire vehicle... 1.800 + 3.447 kg = 5.247 kg
My guesstimate is 3,447 + ~2,900 kg = ~6,347 kg for Cygnus with cargo at liftoff.
Perhaps this is the first Antares 230+? If not, payload looks to be near the max originally listed for Antares 230.
- Ed Kyle
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Red Team has COMPLETED their task and cleared the pad.
"We are good to proceed at this time."
Helium initiation in 30-ish minutes. All systems GREEN at this time!
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So we have only an approximate total weight for the entire vehicle... 1.800 + 3.447 kg = 5.247 kg
My guesstimate is 3,447 + ~2,900 kg = ~6,347 kg for Cygnus with cargo at liftoff.
Perhaps this is the first Antares 230+? If not, payload looks to be near the max originally listed for Antares 230.
- Ed Kyle
Good question. Forgot to ask about that in interview yesterday. Will send NGIS a note to ask if this is a 230 or a 230+.
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FTS arm command test in work.
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Antares teams continuing to work through vehicle checkouts.
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Weather brief:
No issues.
Thin high level clouds, but nothing to violate weather constraints.
ULWs at 91kts at max.
Winds ENE @ 14kts.
Probability of violation: 0%
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GO for PROP load.
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Count has resumed from planned built-in hold.
RP-1 fueling will start shortly.
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RP-1 load has started.
LOX chilldown in work.
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TEL pre-pullback commands sent.
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No issues.
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Any info about the Cygnus total weight, and Antares total weight for this mission?
The only information we have is the CRS-11 overview from NASA that I posted the link to previously. That only gives the total cargo mass of 3,436 kg,
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ng-11_final.pdf
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Launch time is 16:46:07 EDT (2046:07 UTC). The "optimal time" calculated earlier wasn't - as it turns out - a launch target (as it usually is for other rockets). NGIS teams just likes to know these things #Respect
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Any info about the Cygnus total weight, and Antares total weight for this mission?
The only information we have is the CRS-11 overview from NASA that I posted the link to previously. That only gives the total cargo mass of 3,436 kg,
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ng-11_final.pdf
Total payload mass is 3,447.3 kg or 7,600 lbs.
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NASA coverage starting in about 3 minutes.
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Range GREEN for toxic and debris.
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Any info about the Cygnus total weight, and Antares total weight for this mission?
The only information we have is the CRS-11 overview from NASA that I posted the link to previously. That only gives the total cargo mass of 3,436 kg,
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ng-11_final.pdf
Total payload mass is 3,447.3 kg or 7,600 lbs.
That's the approximate mass. The exact mass is 3,436 kg as given in the link above.
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NASA coverage has started.
T-30 minutes.
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NGIS mission control centre.
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FTS external power "on" commands sent and nominal.
FTS now transited on internal power. External power off.
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Current crew on ISS.
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Payload masses.
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Payload masses.
Interesting. This does not match what NASA and NGIS said and gave me this morning.
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T-25 minutes.
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Upper Level Winds are GO!!!!
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T-22 minutes. Showing the two control centres.
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T-20 minutes. TE has been armed for retraction, shortly before launch.
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TEL is armed for rapid retract.
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Cygnus named after Roger Chaffee, who died in Apollo 1.
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Cygnus transitioning to internal power.
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Interview with NG Launch Vehicles Deputy Program Manager. Vehicle has a little bit of an upgrade. Early access capability added.
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Poll to proceed coming up at T-12min 30secs.
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T-14 minutes, 53 seconds.
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Cygnus is on internal power.
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Poll to proceed to launch in work.
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Rollout photos.
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GO to proceed to launch!
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T-12 minutes.
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T-10mins
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T-8mins. No issues.
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T-10 minutes. The NASA countdown clock seems to be counting to launch at 20:35:59 UTC.
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GN2 conditioning initiated.
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T-8 minutes.
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https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1118614787922046976
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T-7 minutes.
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T-6mins. No issues. Proceeding. Ground ordnance power supplies powered up.
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T-6 minutes. Ordnance ground power initialised.
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Engine priming in work.
Avionics to internal power.
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T-4mins
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T-5 minutes.
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Range GREEN!
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T-3mins. No issues.
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T-4 minutes. Range is green.
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T-2mins Green board.
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T-3 minutes.
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T-1min
Go Antares. Go Cygnus!
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T-2 minutes.
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T-1 minute.
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LAUNCH!!!
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Nominal so far.
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Liftoff!
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Through MAX-Q. Engines back to full thrust.
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LAUNCH!
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1118617066402189318
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Trans-sonic.
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T+1 minute.
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T+2mins. All nominal. Through 100,000 feet.
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T+2 minutes.
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First stage shutdown... and separation!
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T+3 minutes.
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Castor 30XL upper stage IGNITION!
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Staging
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1118617909197266949
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First stage separation.
T+4 minutes.
Stage 2 ignition.
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All nominal; now part way through Stage 2 burn.
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T+5 minutes Fairing separation.
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Castor 30XL SHUTDOWN! Altitude: 205 km.
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T+7 minutes. Second stage burnout.
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Cygnus spacecraft SEPARATION!
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T+8 minutes. Animation not showing correct vehicle configuration.
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Nominal orbit insertion!
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T+9 minutes.
Cygnus separation!
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https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1118619354675986433
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Aw. They've signed off. We won't get to see Antares deploy its 61 small sats. 😐
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NASA coverage back in two hours for solar array deployment.
Congratulations to NGIS and NASA for the successful launch!
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Thanks Steven, Chris and Chris and all who helped. Great launch - the control room is just up the road from here! This is a great little powerhouse of a launcher and i will hate to see it go at some point. Having Wallops available is a great asset for the space program. I yelled to my wife to give "Judge Judy" a break and see if the local TV channels had it, but, alas, no they didn't.
On the day of that last spacewalk, which also got little coverage, I had NASA-TV on one computer, and NASA spaceflight.com on another. "Dennis the Menace" was on OTA-TV, "AntennaTV", and the plot was the kids were buying stamps to get the chance to win a chance to go to Canaveral and meet an astronaut. Dennis' classroom had a big Alan Shepard poster on the wall with the May 5th, 1961 date! Everyone, teachers, students and even good ol' Mr. Wilson were quivering with excitement over "our Space Program". I feel we don't really have a "program" now, just a huge collection of different hardware and ideas. We need to get back to that unified feeling, and things like rockets launching from Wallops help with that, beyond an arbitrary monetary value.
BTW, Dennis did not win the contest, but he got a consolation prize: A visit via closed-circuit TV from Shorty Powers ;D
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Northrop Grumman
Verified account @northropgrumman
7 minutes ago
First photos of this afternoon’s #Antares launch of #Cygnus from @NASA_Wallops! Tag us in your photos so we can see them too #NorthropGrumman
twitter.com/northropgrumman/status/1118624208412663808
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Being Orbital OrbitalATK or Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, their CGI telemetry visualization is awful and is getting worse. Otherwise it was very fast and very very nominal flight.
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Aw. They've signed off. We won't get to see Antares deploy its 61 small sats. 😐
I believe that is 13 satellites. There are 60 payloads carried on 12 Thinsats, plus SASSI2.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
Everyone, teachers, students and even good ol' Mr. Wilson were quivering with excitement over "our Space Program". I feel we don't really have a "program" now, just a huge collection of different hardware and ideas. We need to get back to that unified feeling, and things like rockets launching from Wallops help with that, beyond an arbitrary monetary value.
I think that feeling will return once Dragon 2 and CST 100 begin launching crew!
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Aw. They've signed off. We won't get to see Antares deploy its 61 small sats. 😐
I believe that is 13 satellites. There are 60 payloads carried on 12 Thinsats, plus SASSI2.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
Everyone, teachers, students and even good ol' Mr. Wilson were quivering with excitement over "our Space Program". I feel we don't really have a "program" now, just a huge collection of different hardware and ideas. We need to get back to that unified feeling, and things like rockets launching from Wallops help with that, beyond an arbitrary monetary value.
I think that feeling will return once Dragon 2 and CST 100 begin launching crew!
NASA and NGIS folks (in the interview on L2 and in the launch article) both said 60 ThinSats and 1 NASA-sponsored CubeSat. I even called NGIS afterward to make sure. It's 61.
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Being Orbital OrbitalATK or Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, their CGI animation is awful and is getting worse. Otherwise it was very fast and very very nominal flight.
Actually, I was thinking that this launch was a great illustration of what a great job SpaceX and ULA do for their launches. I could understand keeping it cheap when it was Orbital, but given the huge advertising budget of Northrop-Grumman, maybe they could spring for an onboard camera - or just some decent CGI - or a commentator that doesn't announce "MECO in ten seconds" two minutes early - or buying a thesaurus to let the launch announcer find synonyms for "nominal"...
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Still lots of milestones to come, but thanks to Steven and Chris G for the nominal coverage so far!
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Being Orbital OrbitalATK or Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, their CGI animation is awful and is getting worse. Otherwise it was very fast and very very nominal flight.
Actually, I was thinking that this launch was a great illustration of what a great job SpaceX and ULA do for their launches. I could understand keeping it cheap when it was Orbital, but given the huge advertising budget of Northrop-Grumman, maybe they could spring for an onboard camera - or just some decent CGI - or a commentator that doesn't announce "MECO in ten seconds" two minutes early - or buying a thesaurus to let the launch announcer find synonyms for "nominal"...
Their business is space launch not entertainment. NG small customer base is more interest in nominal launches that PR.
ULA is bit different as they are going head to head with SpaceX so need extra PR.
While RL doesn't need PR, it doesn't hurt their business and may buy customer loyality especially given their more diverse customer base.
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NASA and NGIS folks (in the interview on L2 and in the launch article) both said 60 ThinSats and 1 NASA-sponsored CubeSat. I even called NGIS afterward to make sure. It's 61.
Yes, there are 60 Thinsats, but these are tied together in groups of 3, 6 or 5, making up a total of 12 satellites. I incorrectly stated that each satellite was a Thinsat carrying several payloads, when it was in fact each satellite being several Thinsats tied together. Sorry for the confusion! Nevertheless, it is still a total of 13 satellites that are being deployed.
See Gunter's web page and attached documents for the details.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
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NASA and NGIS folks (in the interview on L2 and in the launch article) both said 60 ThinSats and 1 NASA-sponsored CubeSat. I even called NGIS afterward to make sure. It's 61.
Yes, there are 60 Thinsats, but these are tied together in groups of 3, 6 or 5, making up a total of 12 satellites. I incorrectly stated that each satellite was a Thinsat carrying several payloads, when it was in fact each satellite being several Thinsats tied together. Sorry for the confusion! Nevertheless, it is still a total of 13 satellites that are being deployed.
See Gunter's web page and attached documents for the details.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
Ok. I mean, NASA and NGIS both said 61. But cool. 13.
Please note: I say this because the two companies in direct position to know - who have both said 61 - are being called out as inaccurate. I didn't think we were a site that did that. Maybe all 61 are in bundles that make 13 deployments. But deployments are not satellites. There are 61 satellites. So if we are going to assert that NASA and NGIS are wrong on their counts (in NGIS's case, wrong in what they put on their rocket), then we need to link proof from NGIS and NASA.
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Ok. I mean, NASA and NGIS both said 61. But cool. 13.
Please note: I say this because the two companies in direct position to know - who have both said 61 - are being called out as inaccurate.
Wouldn't be the first time. Remember the first launch attempt of STS-114? When the ET tanking ops were being held up by a failed intertank purge heater wiring package in the Pad Terminal Connection Room, the KSC PAO on console for the tanking kept on calling it a "firing package". Not once was it corrected. So, the various NASA PAOs are not infallible. Another is series instances post-Columbia where the orbiters were actually called "Columbia" by the PAOs. Lets not forget the STS-118 Pad A crawlerway gate banner snafu with the mispelling of Endeavour.
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Any info about the Cygnus total weight, and Antares total weight for this mission?
The only information we have is the CRS-11 overview from NASA that I posted the link to previously. That only gives the total cargo mass of 3,436 kg,
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ng-11_final.pdf
Total payload mass is 3,447.3 kg or 7,600 lbs.
3447.3 is an exact conversion of 7600 lb so I think this is only good to the nearest 100 lb/50 kg
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NASA and NGIS folks (in the interview on L2 and in the launch article) both said 60 ThinSats and 1 NASA-sponsored CubeSat. I even called NGIS afterward to make sure. It's 61.
Yes, there are 60 Thinsats, but these are tied together in groups of 3, 6 or 5, making up a total of 12 satellites. I incorrectly stated that each satellite was a Thinsat carrying several payloads, when it was in fact each satellite being several Thinsats tied together. Sorry for the confusion! Nevertheless, it is still a total of 13 satellites that are being deployed.
See Gunter's web page and attached documents for the details.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
Ok. I mean, NASA and NGIS both said 61. But cool. 13.
Please note: I say this because the two companies in direct position to know - who have both said 61 - are being called out as inaccurate. I didn't think we were a site that did that. Maybe all 61 are in bundles that make 13 deployments. But deployments are not satellites. There are 61 satellites. So if we are going to assert that NASA and NGIS are wrong on their counts (in NGIS's case, wrong in what they put on their rocket), then we need to link proof from NGIS and NASA.
I hear you, but I am confident that Steven is right and NGIS/NASA are wrong in this particular case.
(for values of 'wrong' meaning 'using a stupid definition of "satellite" that isn't what anyone else uses')
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A further thought without straying excessively off-topic:
This would be an interesting question for a survey--how would the surveyed define a satellite?
Just a thought! :)
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This is how it works:
- There are 60 individual payloads (Thinsats).
- These payloads can be grouped/interconnected in "strings" of e.g. 2, 3 or 6 Thinsats.
- Several strings go into one cubesat dispenser and will be deployed from that dispenser.
- 12 4 of those dispensers were on the Antares today.
So the Antares deployed 12 dispensers containing 60 payloads, some of which are interconnected. If you define a "satellite" as an independed device floating in space, then we don't know how many satellites were finally deployed, because we don't know how they were grouped into "strings".
Each future Antares flights will carry 80 Thinsats.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4287&context=smallsat
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The solar arrays have successfully deployed. We now return you to the discussion on counting satellites...
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Being Orbital OrbitalATK or Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, their CGI telemetry visualization is awful and is getting worse. Otherwise it was very fast and very very nominal flight.
I actually prefer NG's telemetry display, in terms of the in-depth information it provides, over the more limited data provided by SpaceX. The display had a bad day today, failing to show the jettison events for some reason, but the numbers still looked right. Usually it works much better.
Oh, and I'll take NG's webcast video over SpaceX and ULA. SpaceX covers part of its launch vehicle with numbers. ULA covers it with a scrolling banner (just awful). You can actually see Antares and its launch equipment during the NG webcast!
- Ed Kyle
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Oh wow!!
https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist/status/1118669184446226434
And:
https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist/status/1118622668209762305
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Launch coverage, starts at 1h52m of the video:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/121317222
Solar array deployment coverage, starts at 1h37m:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/121318409
Pre-launch conference, starts at 38m:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/121317222
Post-launch conference, starts at 2h53m (Part 1):
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/121318409
Post-launch conference, Part 2:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/121320226
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April 18, 2019
RELEASE 19-031
Northrop Grumman Heads to Space Station with New NASA Science, Cargo
The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station with about 7,600 pounds of science investigations and cargo after launching at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The spacecraft launched on an Antares 230 Rocket from the Virginia Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad 0A at Wallops and is scheduled to arrive at the orbiting laboratory around 5:30 a.m. Friday, April 19. Coverage of the spacecraft’s approach and arrival will begin at 4 a.m. on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
Expedition 59 astronauts Anne McClain of NASA and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will use the space station’s robotic arm to capture Cygnus, while NASA’s Nick Hague monitors telemetry. The spacecraft will stay at the space station until July.
This delivery, Northrop Grumman’s 11th cargo flight to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract, will support dozens of new and existing investigations. Here are details about some of the scientific investigations Cygnus is delivering to the space station:
Models for growing increasingly complex materials
Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature-10 (ACE-T-10) will test gels in a microgravity environment. This research could aid in the development of increasingly complex materials that may serve as the building blocks for a range of applications on Earth including foods, drugs, and electronic devices. The process also may provide an efficient method to build new materials and equipment in space.
Better life science research in a few drops
Although the space station is well equipped for health and life sciences research, the equipment available for cellular and molecular biology still is limited compared to capabilities found in laboratories on Earth. To address this limitation, CSA designed Bio-Analyzer, a new tool the size of a video game console that astronauts on station easily can use to test body fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine, with just a few drops. It returns key analyses, such as blood cell counts, in just two to three hours, eliminating the need to freeze and store samples.
Analyzing aging of the arteries in astronauts
The Vascular Aging investigation uses ultrasounds, blood samples, oral glucose tolerance tests, and wearable sensors to study aging-like changes that occur in many astronauts during their stay on the space station. It’s one of three Canadian experiments exploring the effects of weightlessness on the blood vessels and heart, and the links between these effects and bone health, blood biomarkers, insulin resistance, and radiation exposure. Increased understanding of these mechanisms can be used to address vascular aging in both astronauts and the aging Earth population.
Testing immune response in space
Spaceflight is known to have a dramatic influence on an astronaut’s immune response, but there is little research on its effect following an actual challenge to the body’s immune system. The rodent immune system closely parallels that of humans, and Rodent Research-12: Tetanus Antibody Response by B cells in Space (TARBIS) will examine the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production and immune memory. This investigation aims to advance the development of measures to counter these effects and help maintain crew health during future long-duration space missions. On Earth, it could advance research to improve the effectiveness of vaccines and therapies for treating diseases and cancers.
Big buzz for new robot
A fleet of small robots is set to take on big jobs aboard the space station. Building on the success of SPHERES, NASA will test Astrobee, a robotic system comprised of three cube-shaped robots and a docking station for recharging; the first two are aboard Cygnus. The free-flying robots use electric fans for propulsion and cameras and sensors help them navigate their surroundings. The robots also have an arm to grasp station handrails or grab and hold items. Astrobee can operate in automated mode or under remote control from the ground as it assists with routine chores on station, and requires no supervision from the crew. This has the potential to free up astronauts to conduct more research.
These are just a few of the hundreds of investigations that will help us learn how to keep astronauts healthy during long-duration space travel and demonstrate technologies for future human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars. Space station research also provides opportunities for other U.S. government agencies, private industry, and academic and research institutions, to conduct microgravity research that leads to new technologies, medical treatments, and products that improve life on Earth.
For more than 18 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth that will enable long-duration human and robotic exploration into deep space. A global endeavor, more than 230 people from 18 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 2,500 research investigations from researchers in 106 countries.
Learn more about Northrop Grumman’s mission at:
https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman
Keep up with the International Space Station, and its research and crews, at:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
Get breaking news, images and features from the station on social media, at:
https://instagram.com/iss
and
https://www.twitter.com/ISS_Research
and
https://www.twitter.com/Space_Station
-end-
Photo Caption:
The Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, with Cygnus resupply spacecraft onboard, launches from Pad-0A, Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Northrop Grumman's 11th contracted cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station will deliver about 7,600 pounds of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to the orbital laboratory and its crew.
Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls
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At wiralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Antares-Status-8-Aug-2018.pptx
I found the following document which I haven't seen posted here - apologies if it is a duplicate
It gives the planned OA-11 Cygnus launch mass as 7300 kg, an increase over the OA-10 mass of 7150 kg,
and confirms the launch used the standard Antares 230 (also confirmed by the callout during launch of interstage separation - I belive the 230+ doesn't have the interstage?)
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At wiralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Antares-Status-8-Aug-2018.pptx
I found the following document which I haven't seen posted here - apologies if it is a duplicate
It gives the planned OA-11 Cygnus launch mass as 7300 kg, an increase over the OA-10 mass of 7150 kg,
and confirms the launch used the standard Antares 230 (also confirmed by the callout during launch of interstage separation - I belive the 230+ doesn't have the interstage?)
The above document also describes the plans for ThinSats as they were on NG-10 (delayed to NG-11 at the last minute). It confirms there were three, not 12, CSD 3U dispensers.
Each dispenser can carry 21 thinsat segments.
If each 3U dispenser has three 6T strings and one 3T string, that would make 12 strings (satellites)
totalling 63T, but apparently there are ony 60T - perhaps one dispenser is 2 x 6T and 2 x 3T.
-
At wiralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Antares-Status-8-Aug-2018.pptx
I found the following document which I haven't seen posted here - apologies if it is a duplicate
It gives the planned OA-11 Cygnus launch mass as 7300 kg, an increase over the OA-10 mass of 7150 kg,
and confirms the launch used the standard Antares 230 (also confirmed by the callout during launch of interstage separation - I belive the 230+ doesn't have the interstage?)
Not sure what's going on here. Look at the delta between OA-5 and OA-8. Cargo upmass increased by 150 kg, but "total Cygnus payload mass" increased by 987 kg.
- Ed Kyle
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The above document also describes the plans for ThinSats as they were on NG-10 (delayed to NG-11 at the last minute). It confirms there were three, not 12, CSD 3U dispensers.
Each dispenser can carry 21 thinsat segments.
If each 3U dispenser has three 6T strings and one 3T string, that would make 12 strings (satellites)
totalling 63T, but apparently there are ony 60T - perhaps one dispenser is 2 x 6T and 2 x 3T.
Gunter lists the strings as
Type 1: 3 connected units (ThinSat 3T)
Type 2: 6 connected units (ThinSat 6T)
Type 3: 5 connected double units (ThinSat Double Plus 4T)
There are three Type 1's, six Type 2's and three Type 3's. That gives a total of 3x3 + 6x6 + 3x5 = 60 Thinsats.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
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Please note: I say this because the two companies in direct position to know - who have both said 61 - are being called out as inaccurate. I didn't think we were a site that did that. Maybe all 61 are in bundles that make 13 deployments. But deployments are not satellites. There are 61 satellites.
PAO's are human beings and are therefore prone to error. Although usually reliable, PAO's can and do make mistakes due to misunderstandings, misremembering, etc. Journalists can also make mistakes for the same reasons. Myself and others can mistakes as well. Together though, we can correct each other so as to provide the most accurate information possible.
So if we are going to assert that NASA and NGIS are wrong on their counts (in NGIS's case, wrong in what they put on their rocket), then we need to link proof from NGIS and NASA.
NASA and NGIS are secondary sources of information on Thinsat. The direct source is Virginia Space, where I have given several references showing that the plan is to launch the Thinsats in groups. Here's just one of the many drawings showing this.
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https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1118845836979519489
I’m thrilled to share my first remote camera video — also featuring rocket tracking! 🎥 🚀
Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket launches the Cygnus resupply capsule to the International Space Station, as seen in this video taken from a few hundred feet away.
https://youtu.be/pSVInBSQJp8
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At wiralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Antares-Status-8-Aug-2018.pptx
I found the following document which I haven't seen posted here - apologies if it is a duplicate
It gives the planned OA-11 Cygnus launch mass as 7300 kg, an increase over the OA-10 mass of 7150 kg,
and confirms the launch used the standard Antares 230 (also confirmed by the callout during launch of interstage separation - I belive the 230+ doesn't have the interstage?)
Not sure what's going on here. Look at the delta between OA-5 and OA-8. Cargo upmass increased by 150 kg, but "total Cygnus payload mass" increased by 987 kg.
- Ed Kyle
Here, "Total Cygnus payload mass" should be read as "Total payload mass orbited by Antares, i.e. the Cygnus considered as a payload" (as opposed to "user payload carried by the Cygnus").
So the 987 kg is 150 kg cargo and 837 kg increase in Cygnus itself, presumably systems supporting the new post-undock long term operations capability, including extra propellant perhaps?
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NASA and NGIS folks (in the interview on L2 and in the launch article) both said 60 ThinSats and 1 NASA-sponsored CubeSat. I even called NGIS afterward to make sure. It's 61.
Yes, there are 60 Thinsats, but these are tied together in groups of 3, 6 or 5, making up a total of 12 satellites. I incorrectly stated that each satellite was a Thinsat carrying several payloads, when it was in fact each satellite being several Thinsats tied together. Sorry for the confusion! Nevertheless, it is still a total of 13 satellites that are being deployed.
See Gunter's web page and attached documents for the details.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
Ok. I mean, NASA and NGIS both said 61. But cool. 13.
Please note: I say this because the two companies in direct position to know - who have both said 61 - are being called out as inaccurate. I didn't think we were a site that did that. Maybe all 61 are in bundles that make 13 deployments. But deployments are not satellites. There are 61 satellites. So if we are going to assert that NASA and NGIS are wrong on their counts (in NGIS's case, wrong in what they put on their rocket), then we need to link proof from NGIS and NASA.
I hear you, but I am confident that Steven is right and NGIS/NASA are wrong in this particular case.
(for values of 'wrong' meaning 'using a stupid definition of "satellite" that isn't what anyone else uses')
OK. Then I need something I can go back to NASA and NGIS with to have a talk with them about giving out false information. If others outside of their orgs are correct and NGIS and NASA are purposefully giving out wrong information (note, it wasn't just PAOs who said this to me in recorded interviews and on double checks afterward), they need to made aware of this and complaints filed. And I am very serious about this. It's not an overreaction either. If media are purposeful fed wrong information, that's a big deal and we need to take steps to correct this.
So my request stands... I need NASA and NGIS documents that officially says 13 instead of 61. If we don't have that, then those in positions to know what is on their rocket is what we should go with. Bundles/Deployments aren't satellites.
Please note: I say this because the two companies in direct position to know - who have both said 61 - are being called out as inaccurate. I didn't think we were a site that did that. Maybe all 61 are in bundles that make 13 deployments. But deployments are not satellites. There are 61 satellites.
PAO's are human beings and are therefore prone to error. Although usually reliable, PAO's can and do make mistakes due to misunderstandings, misremembering, etc. Journalists can also make mistakes for the same reasons. Myself and others can mistakes as well. Together though, we can correct each other so as to provide the most accurate information possible.
So if we are going to assert that NASA and NGIS are wrong on their counts (in NGIS's case, wrong in what they put on their rocket), then we need to link proof from NGIS and NASA.
NASA and NGIS are secondary sources of information on Thinsat. The direct source is Virginia Space, where I have given several references showing that the plan is to launch the Thinsats in groups. Here's just one of the many drawings showing this.
So ThinStats say 21 (from a screengrab that is 2 years out of date). NGIS and NASA (mangers and engineers and PAOs) say 60 ThinSats and 1 NASA CubeSats. So far, not seeing an official "13 satellites, not 61".
The above document also describes the plans for ThinSats as they were on NG-10 (delayed to NG-11 at the last minute). It confirms there were three, not 12, CSD 3U dispensers.
Each dispenser can carry 21 thinsat segments.
If each 3U dispenser has three 6T strings and one 3T string, that would make 12 strings (satellites)
totalling 63T, but apparently there are ony 60T - perhaps one dispenser is 2 x 6T and 2 x 3T.
Gunter lists the strings as
Type 1: 3 connected units (ThinSat 3T)
Type 2: 6 connected units (ThinSat 6T)
Type 3: 5 connected double units (ThinSat Double Plus 4T)
There are three Type 1's, six Type 2's and three Type 3's. That gives a total of 3x3 + 6x6 + 3x5 = 60 Thinsats.
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/thinsat-1.htm
OK. So there are 60 ThinSats plus the NASA-sponsored CubeSat. So 61 -- as NGIS and NASA have said.
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https://twitter.com/csf_spaceflight/status/1118618178261856262
Does the Commercial Spaceflight Federation do their counting in base 7?
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The SSC18 paper describing the ThinSat Program sidesteps the question of whether a ThinSat is a satellite. It refers to ThinSats, and the ThinSat bus, of which we all agree there are 60 aboard NG-11.
ThinSats can be grouped in multiples of 3 to form Strings. The ThinSat bus has two configurations: Mothership and Daughtership. A String must have at least one Mothership (which has a GPS and camera). A Daughtership ThinSat cannot fly independently; it must be part of a String with a Mothership.
Strings can then be grouped into Stacks. Stacks fit into CSDs at 3U for every 21T.
From an attitude and orbit perspective, a String is the unit. From a commanding perspective, the ThinSat is the unit.
To add one further wrinkle, the connections between ThinSats in a String can be articulating fanfolds with additional solar cells on them, so they may be more than just passive wires.
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NASA TV Broadcasts Friday Arrival of U.S. Resupply Ship to Station
Mark Garcia Posted on April 18, 2019
A Northrop Grumman cargo ship carrying about 7,600 pounds of science and research investigations, supplies, and hardware is set to arrive to the International Space Station early Friday morning. The uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft launched at 4:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 17 on an Antares rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
When Cygnus, dubbed the S.S. Roger Chaffee, arrives to the space station on Friday, April 19, Expedition 59 Flight Engineer Anne McClain will use the space station’s robotic arm to take hold of the spacecraft at about 5:30 a.m. Fellow crew member David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency will assist McClain. NASA astronaut Nick Hague will monitor Cygnus systems during its approach for capture. After Cygnus’ capture, ground controllers will command the station’s arm to rotate and install it on the bottom of the station’s Unity module for a three-month stay.
Live coverage will begin on NASA TV at 4 a.m. and return to the air at 7 a.m. for installation coverage. Watch at www.nasa.gov/live
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/04/18/nasa-tv-broadcasts-friday-arrival-of-u-s-resupply-ship-to-station/
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Northrop Grumman Cygnus CRS 11 Launch April 17, 2019
NASA Video
Published on Apr 18, 2019
U.S. COMMERCIAL CARGO SHIP HEADS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket launched April 17 from Pad 0A at the Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, carrying the unpiloted Cygnus cargo craft to orbit for its journey to deliver several tons of supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station. Dubbed the “SS Roger Chaffee” in honor of the NASA astronaut who died in the Apollo 1 launch pad fire in January 1967, Cygnus is scheduled to arrive at the station on April 19, where it will be captured by Expedition 59 Flight Engineers Anne McClain of NASA and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency using the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Robotic flight controllers will then maneuver Cygnus for its installation to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module where it will spend three months.
https://youtu.be/8898aNSNLWA?t=001
https://youtu.be/8898aNSNLWA
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Northrop Grumman confirms all 60 ThinSats and 1 NASA-sponsored 3U CubeSat (SAFFI2) deployed as planned from the Castor 30XL upper stage of Antares
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436 AM April 19 2019
Cynus is currently holding at the 250 meter Hold Point until given Go for the next milestone
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Heading to 30 meters.
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30 m hold point.
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At 30 meter hold point
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nice view of the vehicile as it in daytime heading into capture point
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Can anyone get some good screen shots?
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Capture Point.
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1119168894508212226
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Stand by for capture go for capture
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GO for capture.
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CAPTURE
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CAPTURE CONFIRMED!
ARTICLE by Chris Gebhardt:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/ng-11-cygnus-brings-science-iss/
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1119171246716071936
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NG-11: S.S. Roger Chaffee Cygnus capture
SciNews
Published on Apr 19, 2019
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft, dubbed the S.S. Roger Chaffee, was captured with the International Space Station’s robotic Canadarm2 by NASA astronaut Anne McClain and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency, on 19 April 2019, at 09:28 UTC (05:28 EDT). A Northrop Grumman Antares 230 rocket launched the CRS-11 Cygnus spacecraft, dubbed the S.S. Roger Chaffee, from MARS Pad 0A, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, on 17 April 2019, at 20:46 UTC (16:46 EDT). For the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) NG-11 mission, Cygnus delivers about 3450 kilograms (7600 pounds) of cargo to the International Space Station. The NG-11 Cygnus Cargo Delivery Spacecraft is named in honor of the American astronaut Roger Chaffe, the pilot of the Apollo 1 spacecraft, the first manned mission of the Apollo program.
https://youtu.be/Rzy32oTzw2M?t=001
https://youtu.be/Rzy32oTzw2M
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Strings can then be grouped into Stacks. Stacks fit into CSDs at 3U for every 21T.
Three of the units are double thickness, hence the 60 rather than 63 units.
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Berthing to Node 1.
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First and second stage capture complete!
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1119202401486102528
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Cygnus Cargo Craft Attached to Station Until July
Mark Garcia Posted on April 19, 2019
After its capture this morning at 5:28 a.m. EDT, the Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft was bolted into place on the International Space Station’s Earth-facing port of the Unity module at 7:31 a.m. At the time of installation, Cygnus was flying 255 miles above the Indian Ocean just south of Singapore.
Cygnus will remain at the space station until July 23, when the spacecraft will depart the station, deploy NanoRacks customer CubeSats, then have an extended mission of nine months before it will dispose of several tons of trash during a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The spacecraft’s arrival brings close to 7,600 pounds of research and supplies to space station. Highlights of NASA-sponsored research to advance exploration goals and enable future missions to the Moon and Mars include:
Models for growing increasingly complex materials
Advanced Colloids Experiment-Temperature-10 (ACE-T-10) will test gels in a microgravity environment. This research could aid in the development of increasingly complex materials that may serve as the building blocks for a range of applications on Earth including foods, drugs, and electronic devices. The process also may provide an efficient method to build new materials and equipment in space.
Better life science research in a few drops
Although the space station is well equipped for health and life sciences research, the equipment available for cellular and molecular biology still is limited compared to capabilities found in laboratories on Earth. To address this limitation, CSA designed Bio-Analyzer, a new tool the size of a video game console that astronauts on station easily can use to test body fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine, with just a few drops. It returns key analyses, such as blood cell counts, in just two to three hours, eliminating the need to freeze and store samples.
Analyzing aging of the arteries in astronauts
The Vascular Aging investigation uses ultrasounds, blood samples, oral glucose tolerance tests, and wearable sensors to study aging-like changes that occur in many astronauts during their stay on the space station. It’s one of three Canadian experiments exploring the effects of weightlessness on the blood vessels and heart, and the links between these effects and bone health, blood biomarkers, insulin resistance, and radiation exposure. Increased understanding of these mechanisms can be used to address vascular aging in both astronauts and the aging Earth population.
Testing immune response in space
Spaceflight is known to have a dramatic influence on an astronaut’s immune response, but there is little research on its effect following an actual challenge to the body’s immune system. The rodent immune system closely parallels that of humans, and Rodent Research-12: Tetanus Antibody Response by B cells in Space (TARBIS) will examine the effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production and immune memory. This investigation aims to advance the development of measures to counter these effects and help maintain crew health during future long-duration space missions. On Earth, it could advance research to improve the effectiveness of vaccines and therapies for treating diseases and cancers.
Big buzz for new robot
A fleet of small robots is set to take on big jobs aboard the space station. Building on the success of SPHERES, NASA will test Astrobee, a robotic system comprised of three cube-shaped robots and a docking station for recharging; the first two are aboard Cygnus. The free-flying robots use electric fans for propulsion and cameras and sensors help them navigate their surroundings. The robots also have an arm to grasp station handrails or grab and hold items. Astrobee can operate in automated mode or under remote control from the ground as it assists with routine chores on station, and requires no supervision from the crew. This has the potential to free up astronauts to conduct more research.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/04/19/cygnus-cargo-craft-attached-to-station-until-july/
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Some pics of the Cygnus capture (Twittter Christina Hammock-Kock and David Saint Jacques), plus an overview of the new station config.
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Some pics of Mission Control during the Cygnus NG-11 ops and of the new PAO Courtney Beasley.
https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1119291692941828098
https://twitter.com/Tungsten_Flight/status/1119192065240383489
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I heard a comment on the ISS feed that BEAM operations were complete, that both hatches were closed, and that photos of the cargo (presumably newly arrived on Cygnus) in BEAM were ready for download. Interesting that BEAM is now seen as a safe storage area on the station and not an experiment...
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I heard a comment on the ISS feed that BEAM operations were complete, that both hatches were closed, and that photos of the cargo (presumably newly arrived on Cygnus) in BEAM were ready for download. Interesting that BEAM is now seen as a safe storage area on the station and not an experiment...
This was actually because of the Treadmill failure as the spare treadmill was located in the BEAM.
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I heard a comment on the ISS feed that BEAM operations were complete, that both hatches were closed, and that photos of the cargo (presumably newly arrived on Cygnus) in BEAM were ready for download. Interesting that BEAM is now seen as a safe storage area on the station and not an experiment...
This was actually because of the Treadmill failure as the spare treadmill was located in the BEAM.
I saw that today... "Treadmill 2 (T2) Remove & Replace (R&R): Yesterday, T2 experienced an anomaly during crew exercise. After reviewing all available data, ground experts determined that this T2 had reached its end of life and an R&R, using an on-orbit spare, was required. After ingressing the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) module, where the spare T2 treadmill was stowed, the crew completed the R&R and a subsequent Activation and Checkout (ACO). Since the new T2 treadmill has been stowed for several years, specialists are currently reviewing the data from the ACO to ensure full functionality and capture a data baseline for future maintenance activities."
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https://twitter.com/Astro_Christina/status/1121180212752994305
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Nice timelapse of the first few hours of NG-11 being docked to ISS, showing the IV work to prepare for hatch opening, to then outfit the vestibule with Chaffee looking over their shoulders, and initial time-sensitive cargo offloading.
https://twitter.com/AstroHague/status/1124092377591840769
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Cygnus will remain at the space station until July 23, when the spacecraft will depart the station, deploy NanoRacks customer CubeSats, then have an extended mission of nine months before it will dispose of several tons of trash during a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
from: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/station-planning-new-crew-launch-dates/
Northrop Grumman’s portion of the CRS1 contract will conclude on 27 July 2019 with the NG-11 Cygnus’ planned unberth from the Station.
What's schedule date of Cygnus departure of ISS?
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Cross Post:
This requires crew to take small sats delivered to ISS in Dragon SpX-18 and place the SEOPS SlingShot Deployer with the installed satellites into the SlingShot hardware attached to the Cygnus NG-11 hatch bulkhead. Then Cygnus, after it leaves ISS, will go to the desired orbit and deploy the small sats.
https://twitter.com/SpaceflightInc/status/1154112515971964928
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Cygnus will remain at the space station until July 23, when the spacecraft will depart the station, deploy NanoRacks customer CubeSats, then have an extended mission of nine months before it will dispose of several tons of trash during a fiery reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
from: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/station-planning-new-crew-launch-dates/
Northrop Grumman’s portion of the CRS1 contract will conclude on 27 July 2019 with the NG-11 Cygnus’ planned unberth from the Station.
What's schedule date of Cygnus departure of ISS?
From the NASA TV schedule:
August 6, Tuesday
12 p.m. – Coverage of the Release of the Northrop Grumman Cygnus NG-11 Cargo Craft from the International Space Station; release scheduled at 12:15 p.m. EDT
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August 01, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY M19-078
NASA Television to Broadcast Space Station Departure of Cygnus Cargo Ship
The Canadarm2 robotic arm
The Canadarm2 robotic arm is positioned to grapple the Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo craft as it approaches its capture point with the International Space Station orbiting 255 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. Highlighting the foreground is the Soyuz MS-12 crew ship docked to the Rassvet module.
Credits: NASA
More than three months after delivering several tons of supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft, the SS Roger Chaffee, will depart the orbiting laboratory Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Live coverage of the craft’s release will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website beginning at noon EDT, with release scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
Expedition 60 Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA will use the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm to release Cygnus after ground controllers remotely unbolt the craft from the Earth-facing port of the Unity module and maneuver it into release position.
Within 24 hours of its release, Cygnus will begin its secondary mission, deploying a series of CubeSats. Once at a safe distance away from station, two deployment systems – one provided by NanoRacks and the other by Hypergiant SEOPS (Satellite, Extraterrestrial Operations and Procedures) – will begin deploying the small satellites. After about a month of free-flight operations, NASA’s Seeker Robotic External CubeSat Inspection Vehicle will be deployed and operations will begin to demonstrate its ability to maneuver around Cygnus and take high-resolution photos. Seeker will transmit those images to its Kenobi receiver inside Cygnus for storage and transmission to the ground at a later date.
Cygnus also will demonstrate a Control Moment Gyroscope attitude control system and perform operations for the UbiquitiLink payload during the secondary mission. Cygnus will remain in orbit until later this year to demonstrate Northrop Grumman’s ability to fly two Cygnus spacecraft simultaneously and support payloads on the cargo craft for extended durations.
More details of Cygnus’ mission and Expedition 60 crew activities are available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
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NG-11 unberthing in progress: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream
First movement noticed at 13:30 UTC
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NASA TV coverage of the release is live. Cygnus NG-11 currently at the end of the extended SSRMS.
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Announcer is currently recapping the mission with some footage of unberthing, as well as April's launch and berthing.
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Cygnus NG-11 flying free over the eastern Pacific Ocean.
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Departure burn in progress. 3-minute burn to take Cygnus outside the approach ellipsoid.
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Mission controllers at both NASA and Northrop Grumman continuing to monitor the departing Cygnus spacecraft.
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Article by Chris Gebhart:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/08/ng-11-cygnus-months-orbit-tests/
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1158774501246717958
Release video.
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ISS config., after Cygnus NG-11 departure:
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Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus Spacecraft Departs International Space Station, Begins Secondary Mission
S.S. Roger Chaffee set to demonstrate first extended duration flight
Dulles, Va. – Aug. 6, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced that its Cygnus™ spacecraft has successfully unberthed and departed from the International Space Station (ISS), beginning its secondary mission before it reenters Earth’s atmosphere. The NG-11 Cygnus spacecraft, named in honor of Apollo 1 astronaut and space visionary Roger Chaffee, left the ISS after a 109 day stay at the station.
While docked at the orbiting laboratory, astronauts unloaded approximately 7,000 pounds of vital supplies and scientific equipment. They then loaded approximately 5,300 pounds of disposable cargo on to Cygnus for removal from the station.
The next phase of the mission will demonstrate enhanced capabilities Cygnus offers that go well beyond cargo supply and disposal. The spacecraft will deploy multiple CubeSats via the Slingshot CubeSat Deployer System installed by NASA astronauts prior to unberthing from the ISS, and the NanoRacks external CubeSat deployer. Cygnus will then remain in orbit to coincide with a second Cygnus spacecraft scheduled for launch in October to the International Space Station -- its first extended duration flight to demonstrate its capability to fly two Cygnus vehicles simultaneously and support hosted payloads for longer periods of time. This newest innovation reinforces Cygnus’ ability to serve a robust and growing commercial economy in low earth orbit.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.
https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grummans-cygnus-spacecraft-departs-international-space-station-begins-secondary-mission
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"Like all previous Cygnus missions, the spacecraft will burn up during re-entry over the Pacific Ocean once the extended mission demonstration is complete. The re-entry is scheduled for Dec. 11."
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/08/06/ng-11-cygnus-iss-departure/
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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/08/06/iss-daily-summary-report-8062019/
This is the second SlingShot mission and will deploy 4 satellites, but can accommodate up to 18 satellites:
Quantum Radar: Student-operated ground stations utilize a collimated laser telescope to illuminate and perform tracking of the satellite.
National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS): This is an Egyptian Space Agency civilian satellite. The main objective is scientific research for civilian purposes, including imaging, reception of temperature values of different subsystems, magnetic field measurement, and power supply values during different orbital positions.
Radio Frequency Tag Satellite (RFTSat): This Northwest Nazarene University CubeSat demonstrates the application of radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting and backscatter communication to the problem of distributed sensing in space.
ORCA: Demonstrates radio frequency communication technology for communication between spacecraft and from space to ground.
In addition to the deployed satellites, one payload will remain attached to SlingShot (UbiquityLink-2) which has the objective of demonstrating radio frequency communication technology for communication between spacecraft and from space to ground.
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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/08/06/iss-daily-summary-report-8062019/
This is the second SlingShot mission and will deploy 4 satellites, but can accommodate up to 18 satellites:
Quantum Radar: Student-operated ground stations utilize a collimated laser telescope to illuminate and perform tracking of the satellite.
National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS): This is an Egyptian Space Agency civilian satellite. The main objective is scientific research for civilian purposes, including imaging, reception of temperature values of different subsystems, magnetic field measurement, and power supply values during different orbital positions.
Radio Frequency Tag Satellite (RFTSat): This Northwest Nazarene University CubeSat demonstrates the application of radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting and backscatter communication to the problem of distributed sensing in space.
ORCA: Demonstrates radio frequency communication technology for communication between spacecraft and from space to ground.
In addition to the deployed satellites, one payload will remain attached to SlingShot (UbiquityLink-2) which has the objective of demonstrating radio frequency communication technology for communication between spacecraft and from space to ground.
I wonder if the ORCA text is correct or just a paste error from UbiquityLink. Also noticable that there is no owner mentioned for ORCA. Too early for it to be the CSA/U VIc ORCASat.
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https://twitter.com/SpaceflightInc/status/1159308699908706304
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https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2019/08/06/iss-daily-summary-report-8062019/
This is the second SlingShot mission and will deploy 4 satellites, but can accommodate up to 18 satellites:
Quantum Radar: Student-operated ground stations utilize a collimated laser telescope to illuminate and perform tracking of the satellite.
National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS): This is an Egyptian Space Agency civilian satellite. The main objective is scientific research for civilian purposes, including imaging, reception of temperature values of different subsystems, magnetic field measurement, and power supply values during different orbital positions.
Radio Frequency Tag Satellite (RFTSat): This Northwest Nazarene University CubeSat demonstrates the application of radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting and backscatter communication to the problem of distributed sensing in space.
ORCA: Demonstrates radio frequency communication technology for communication between spacecraft and from space to ground.
In addition to the deployed satellites, one payload will remain attached to SlingShot (UbiquityLink-2) which has the objective of demonstrating radio frequency communication technology for communication between spacecraft and from space to ground.
I wonder if the ORCA text is correct or just a paste error from UbiquityLink. Also noticable that there is no owner mentioned for ORCA. Too early for it to be the CSA/U VIc ORCASat.
ORCA seems to be this one
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=7960
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https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/1159503738425499648
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RFTSat also launched August 7:
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/student-built-cubesat-slingshots-into-space
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Slips to October 21, 18:39 UTC
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
To clarify - this is the Cygnus NG-12 launch date.
Is NG-12 carrying the hardware for the AMS repair?
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https://twitter.com/SpaceflightInc/status/1160986326415622146
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One week since the Aerocube and Slingshot deploys, only two objects being tracked out of the six thought to have been deployed.
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One week since the Aerocube and Slingshot deploys, only two objects being tracked out of the six thought to have been deployed.
This is from yesterday morning , 08.38UTC
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum10/topic16713/message1877144/#message1877144
0 TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
1 44415U 19022E 19225.60461257 .00000713 00000-0 37096-4 0 9992
2 44415 51.6439 77.4732 0011203 290.9931 68.9850 15.29436607 973
0 TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
1 44416U 19022F 19225.47389442 .00001324 00000-0 58138-4 0 9992
2 44416 51.6439 78.1008 0011197 290.3539 69.6238 15.29449281 934
0 TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
1 44417U 19022G 19225.47378721 .00001024 00000-0 47763-4 0 9990
2 44417 51.6440 78.1001 0011396 290.3777 69.5979 15.29475738 976
0 TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
1 44418U 19022H 19225.60435602 .00001614 00000-0 67996-4 0 9993
2 44418 51.6440 77.4718 0011419 290.1703 69.8049 15.29508107 997
44415..44418 / 2019022E..H : 469 x 485 km x 51.644°, 94.14 min
I don´t know the source for that. The NORAD numbers don´t look as current numbers, but I don´t know, how NORAD produce these numbers.
After searching for a time I found them here.
https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/active.txt
2019-022E
1 44415U 19022E 19225.60461257 .00000713 00000-0 37096-4 0 9992
2 44415 51.6439 77.4732 0011203 290.9931 68.9850 15.29436607 973
2019-022F
1 44416U 19022F 19225.47389442 .00001324 00000-0 58138-4 0 9992
2 44416 51.6439 78.1008 0011197 290.3539 69.6238 15.29449281 934
2019-022G
1 44417U 19022G 19225.47378721 .00001024 00000-0 47763-4 0 9990
2 44417 51.6440 78.1001 0011396 290.3777 69.5979 15.29475738 976
2019-022H
1 44418U 19022H 19225.60435602 .00001614 00000-0 67996-4 0 9993
2 44418 51.6440 77.4718 0011419 290.1703 69.8049 15.29508107 997
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Numbers were being reserved for the four so-far uncatalogued satellites from the Meteor-M 2-2 launch.
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https://twitter.com/ISS_CASIS/status/1161690955268939781
https://www.issnationallab.org/blog/launching-small-satellites-with-slingshot/
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1644-EX-ST-2019
Three Virginia universities (see table below) each have launched a 1U Cubesat. They were
carried to the International Space Station (ISS) on NG-11 resupply mission, launched April 17,
2019. They were deployed from the ISS on July 3.
Since then, despite ongoing attempts, there has been no communication established between
the ground stations and the satellites. The current concept of operation is for each university
ground station to communicate with the cubesat from that university.
We request Special Temporary Authority to enable each of the three university ground stations
to transmit to each of the cubesats, and enable each of the cubesats to transmit to each of the
ground stations.
Also, we request Special Temporary Authority for the cubesats to communicate with the
Wallops Flight Facility 11 meter diameter antenna. It is thought that a larger antenna may have
a better chance of communicating if performance of the cubesats is somehow impaired.
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https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1174211006144405504
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Possible re-entry on dec 6th 1600-1830 UTC
https://twitter.com/LaunchStuff/status/1201157900565172228
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Possible re-entry on dec 6th 1600-1830 UTC
Not associated with any Pacific NOTAM/NOTMAR for the December 6 launch of Progress MS-13?
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Possible re-entry on dec 6th 1600-1830 UTC
Not associated with any Pacific NOTAM/NOTMAR for the December 6 launch of Progress MS-13?
Actually not sure where third stage burns up during Progress launches, huh...
But here's navigational warnings with the same region for:
OA-6
HYDROPAC 1816/2016 (83)
SOUTH PACIFIC.
SPACE DEBRIS.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 221315Z TO 221515Z JUN
IN AREA BETWEEN
30-30S 50-00S AND 130-00W 160-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 221615Z JUN 16.
170937Z JUN 2016 NAVAREA XIV 50/16 162115Z JUN 16.
OA-7
HYDROPAC 2002/2017 (83)
SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS SPACE DEBRIS
111700Z TO 111900Z JUN IN AREA BETWEEN
30-30S 50-00S AND 130-00W 160-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 112000Z JUN 17.
062125Z JUN 2017 ORBITAL ATK 061925Z JUN 17.
OA-8E
HYDROPAC 4388/2017 (83)
SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS SPACE DEBRIS
181230Z TO 181430Z DEC IN AREA BETWEEN
30-30S 50-00S AND 130-00W 160-00W.
2. CANCEL HYDROPAC 4382/17.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 181530Z DEC 17.
131442Z DEC 2017 ORBITAL ATK 131439Z DEC 17.
OA-9E
HYDROPAC 2707/2018 (83)
SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
302045Z TO 302245Z JUL IN AREA BETWEEN
30-30S 50-00S AND 130-00W 160-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 302345Z JUL 18.
250643Z JUL 2018 NORTHROP GRUMMAN 231628Z JUL 18.
NG-10
HYDROPAC 587/2019 (83)
SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
250745Z TO 251000Z FEB
IN AREA BETWEEN
50-00S 30-30S AND 130-00W 160-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251100Z FEB 19.
210850Z FEB 2019 NORTHROP GRUMMAN 312031Z JAN 19.
NG-11
HYDROPAC 3963/2019 (83)
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
061600Z TO 061830Z DEC IN AREA BOUND BY
50-00S 130-00W, 30-30S 130-00W,
30-30S 160-00W, 50-00S 160-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 061930Z DEC 19.
010707Z DEC 2019 NORTHROP GRUMMAN 091530Z APR 19.
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https://twitter.com/northropgrumman/status/1203018776352100352
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Possible re-entry on dec 6th 1600-1830 UTC
Not associated with any Pacific NOTAM/NOTMAR for the December 6 launch of Progress MS-13?
Actually not sure where third stage burns up during Progress launches, huh...
Apparently Soyuz-2-1a/Blok I performs no de-orbit burn at the end of a Progress mission. It naturally decays from LEO (days/a few weeks?) thereafter.
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Possible re-entry on dec 6th 1600-1830 UTC
Not associated with any Pacific NOTAM/NOTMAR for the December 6 launch of Progress MS-13?
Actually not sure where third stage burns up during Progress launches, huh...
Apparently Soyuz-2-1a/Blok I performs no de-orbit burn at the end of a Progress mission. It naturally decays from LEO (days/a few weeks?) thereafter.
Blok-I doesn't have restart capability for all Soyuz versions excluding the proposed 2M version to better compete with F9 and Atlas-V.
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Images from the Seeker CubeSat released on Sep. 16 2019 can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ce8V74uiZvadzJo4k1R7S2QH-IVO_KGB
Source: https://sites.utexas.edu/tsl/seeker/
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https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1252767019600150528
A new object cataloged from the NG-11 launch is probably the third passive atmospheric probe released by @AerospaceCorp Aerocube-10a. Here are the orbital height histories of the probes and AC-10a.
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Two years after launch, another new object has been catalogued:
2019-022P (NORAD 48156)
Country: US
476 x 462 km / 51,64°
This closely matches the Aerocube orbits. Was there another probe to go?
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There were 28 of the probes aboard at launch, so plenty still to go.
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Images from the Seeker CubeSat released on Sep. 16 2019 can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ce8V74uiZvadzJo4k1R7S2QH-IVO_KGB
Source: https://sites.utexas.edu/tsl/seeker/
Timelapse:
https://mobile.twitter.com/JareelSkaj/status/1403452638331641867